Panic and Freeze

For some strange, bizarre reason, despite being fully capable of choosing to just blow them away, you choose to panic instantly. As the curtain opens and the lights flash onto you, you freeze like a deer in headlights. Staring out at the large crowd, the realization of how badly you're fucking up hits you, and causes you to freeze even more. You try to stammer out your opening line, but can barely get it out.

"It's OK!" Caoimhe says. "Say 'Ow!' and then 'If this is how you treat customers, I'll take my business elsewhere!"

You nod in response, and stammer out your lines, the girl playing the shopkeeper responding in kind, scratching her big, black, bushy beard, as the play begins.

However, the starting panic has clearly left you off your game. Your memory of the lines is hazy, with you needing to be reminded more than once, while your singing voice has gotten quite screechy with nerves. Your failure demoralizes the other actors, and the show is soon an utter failure.

On your off-scenes, it's made remarkably clear how upset Caoimhe is, though she tries eagerly to hide it, acting encouragingly, reminding you of your lines and advising you on your pitch. While Beth seems disappointed, but manageable, Caoimhe is nearly in tears after thing after thing goes wrong, though still bravely tries to hide in, assuring you that she's fine and you don't need to worry. Hours of manpower seem to have gone awry. Eventually, when the play comes to a close with a few parents half-heartedly clapping, and you make your way off stage. Quickly, you find Caoimhe, whose eyes are brimming with tears.

"I'm so sorry, Caoimhe."

"It's OK! I promise! It's my fault! I'm the director, I should have done more," Caoimhe sniffles.

"Thanks," you say, knowing that while Caoimhe may believe what she's saying, you're the one who fucked it all up. "But it was my fault. I'm sorry, I just froze."

"It's not your fault," Caoimhe says. "I'm the same way, there's a reason I'm not on stage."

"Do you want to go get a drink?"

"I do," Caoimhe nods. "But I can't. I need to go talk to the drama teacher about this, and I've some family in the crowd to see, and... I'm sorry. I know you need support here, but I'm really busy."

"Don't worry about it," you nod. "I understand completely."

Caoimhe thanks you politely, before planting a kiss on your lips and heading off. Looking around, it seems the rest of the crew and actors are all quite depressed and disappointed, giving you relatively few chances for fun, so you decide to head back to your room and get to bed.